Pack having improved structural integrity and method for making same

ABSTRACT

Described herein are a pack that has an interior storage compartment and a method for making the pack. The pack includes multiple joined panels inside of which is contained the interior storage compartment. The multiple joined panels include at least first and second panels. A seam joins the first and second panels together. A zipper that is composed of a chain and a slider is also part of the pack. The chain has first and second ends between which the slider is movable. By moving the slider, the zipper can transition between an opened position in which an aperture in the chain allows access to the interior storage compartment and a closed position that prevents access to the interior storage compartment. The zipper is affixed on to the pack such that the slider is movable over the seam without dividing the seam. As the seams of the pack are not divided to facilitate zipper placement, the structural integrity of the pack is improved over conventional packs in which seams are split to facilitate zipper placement.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a pack having improved structural integrity relative to conventional packs and, in particular, to a backpack.

BACKGROUND

Packs, such as backpacks and handbags, are known in the art. Typically, a pack is composed of multiple panels that are sewn or otherwise joined together along seams. Within the pack and defined by the panels is an interior storage compartment. To gain access to the interior storage compartment, a zipper is used extending along at least one of the panels of the pack. Opening the zipper allows a pack wearer to access the interior storage compartment, while closing the zipper seals the interior storage compartment. In order to facilitate carrying of relatively heavy loads in the interior storage compartment, it would be beneficial for the pack to have relatively high structural integrity and for the zipper to be able to be opened and closed relatively easily even when the pack is being used to carry a relatively heavy load.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect, there is provided a pack having an interior storage compartment. The pack includes a plurality of joined panels containing the interior storage compartment therein. The plurality of joined panels include joined first and second panels. A seam joins the first and second panels together. The pack also includes a zipper that has a chain and a slider. The chain has first and second ends between which the slider is movable such that the zipper can transition between an opened position that creates an aperture in the chain that allows access to the interior storage compartment and a closed position that prevents access to the interior storage compartment. The zipper is affixed on the pack such that the slider is movable over the seam without dividing the seam. The aperture does not need to extend the full distance between the first and second ends of the chain.

The zipper can include two sliders and be in the opened position when the distance between the two sliders is sufficiently large to result in the aperture. The pack can also have a strap coupled to the panels such that a person can wear the pack and such that at least one of the joined panels is forced towards the person when the pack is worn.

The zipper can be in the opened position when the slider is at the first of the chain and be in the closed position when the slider is at the second end of the chain. The second end can be located on the at least one of the joined panels that is forced towards the person when the pack is worn. In this way, the slider can contact the person when the pack is worn, thus impeding a thief from accessing the interior storage compartment. The second end can also be located against the lower back of the person wearing the pack when the pack is worn.

The pack can also include padding disposed on the joined panel that is forced towards the person when the pack is worn. The second end can be recessed within the padding.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a backpack having an interior storage compartment. The backpack includes a plurality of joined panels containing the interior storage compartment. The plurality of joined panels includes a back panel that is forced towards the back of a person wearing the backpack and a second panel that is joined to the back panel. A strap is coupled to the plurality of joined panels such that the person can wear the backpack. A seam joins the back and the second panels together. A zipper having a chain and a slider is movable on the chain. The slider is movable between an opened position that creates an aperture in the chain that allows access to the interior storage compartment and a closed position that prevents access to the interior storage compartment. The zipper is affixed on the backpack such that the slider is movable over the seam without dividing the seam. The aperture does not have to extend the full distance between the first and second ends.

The chain can have first and second ends between which the slider is movable. The zipper can be in the opened position when the slider is at the first end and be in the closed position when the slider is at the second end, which can be located on the back panel.

The zipper can also have two sliders and be in the opened position when the distance between the two sliders is sufficiently large to result in the aperture.

The second end can be located against the lower back of the person wearing the backpack when the pack is worn. Padding can be disposed on the back panel, with the second end being recessed within the padding.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a method for manufacturing a pack. The method includes joining together, along a seam, a plurality of panels within which is contained an interior storage compartment. The method also includes affixing a zipper to at least one of the plurality of panels and along a hole in the at least one of the plurality of panels that leads to the interior storage compartment such that when the zipper is in a closed position access to the interior storage compartment is prevented and when the zipper is in an opened position access to the interior storage compartment is allowed. The zipper is affixed such that the zipper can transition between the opened and closed positions without dividing the seam.

The zipper may include a chain and a slider movable along the chain, and may be affixed on to the exterior of the at least one of the plurality of panels such that the slider is movable over a portion of the at least one of the plurality of panels without splitting the at least one of the plurality of panels.

Beneficially, by affixing the zipper on the pack such that the slider of the zipper is movable over the seam without dividing the seam, the seam continuously bears at least a portion of the load of the pack regardless of whether the pack is opened or closed. This can positively contribute to the structural integrity of the pack, as the seam can bear the portion of the load that would otherwise be borne by, and could pull apart, the teeth of the zipper. Reducing the load borne by the zipper can facilitate easy opening and closing of the pack; for example, a closed zipper that is bearing a large load can be difficult to open, while a zipper that is being kept open by virtue of a large load being borne by the panels to which the zipper is affixed can be difficult to close.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one or more exemplary embodiments:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting a left, rear portion a pack according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view depicting a right, front portion of the pack according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view depicting a left, front portion of the pack according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4( a) is a perspective view depicting a right, rear portion of the pack according to the first embodiment, the pack having a zipper that is partially opened and revealing a seam underneath;

FIG. 4( b) is a perspective view depicting the right, rear portion of the pack according to the first embodiment, the zipper being opened such that a wearer can access an interior storage compartment of the pack;

FIG. 5( a) is a perspective view depicting a left, front portion of the pack according to a second embodiment, the zipper being opened such that the seam underneath the zipper is visible; and

FIG. 5( b) is a perspective view depicting the left, front portion of the pack according to the second embodiment, the zipper being opened such that the wearer can access the interior storage compartment of the pack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Directional terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “transverse” and “longitudinal” are used in this description merely to assist the reader to understand the described embodiments and are not to be construed to limit the orientation of any described method, product, apparatus or parts thereof, whether in operation or in connection to another object.

A seam is a line along which two or more layers of fabric or other material (each a “panel”) are held together by stitching or other means, such as glue. Seams that are used in a pack to join various panels of the pack together contribute to the overall structural integrity of the pack. For example, the seams are load bearing in that they help bear the weight of whatever the pack is being used to hold, and the seams also help the pack retain its shape. Consequently, when the seams of the pack are cut, as is done during manufacture of conventional packs, the structural integrity of the pack is impaired. For example, when gaps are cut into the seams of the pack so that a zipper can be sewn in the gap and inline with the seam to facilitate opening and closing of the pack, the load that the seams would otherwise have entirely borne is instead transferred through the zipper. Similarly, when a portion of one of the panels of the pack is split open to result in a gap that allows access to the interior of the pack and the zipper is sewn along the length of the gap so as to close the gap when the zipper is closed, the load that the panel would otherwise have borne is instead transferred through the zipper. In both of these exemplary situations the structural integrity of the pack is potentially impaired; when the zipper is closed, excess load can result in the teeth of the zipper chain being pulled apart, while when the zipper is open, the seams and split portions of the panels through which the zipper is sewn are unable to effectively bear any load.

The embodiments disclosed herein describe a pack 10 composed of multiple panels 14, 16, 18, 20 that are joined to each other along seams 22 a-e. Sealing devices in the form of zippers 24, 25 are sewn over the seams 22 a-e, and not through the seams 22 a-e, such that when the zippers 24, 25 are opened and closed they move on the exterior of the pack 10 and over the seams 22 a-e. As the seams 22 a-e are not split to facilitate placement of the zippers 24, 25 during manufacturing or use of the pack 10, the structural integrity of the pack 10 is improved relative to packs whose seams have been split during manufacturing to allow for zippers to be sewn on to the pack. Additionally, the zippers 24, 25 are sewn along the surface of at least one of the panels 14, 16, 18, 20 without first cutting a gap into the panel. This allows zipper sliders 28, 36 to traverse over the surface of the panel without splitting the panel, which allows the panel to bear loads that would otherwise be borne by the zippers 24, 25 if a gap had been cut into the panel.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4( b), there is depicted a first embodiment of the pack 10 that has the zippers 24, 25 sewn over, and not through, the seams 22 a-e. The pack 10 is a backpack that has a back panel 16 (visible through a portion of padding 40 that is cut away) that is forced towards the back of a wearer when the pack 10 is worn; a first intermediate panel 18 that is adjacent to the back panel 16; a second intermediate panel 20 that is adjacent to the first intermediate panel 18; a front panel 14 that is adjacent to the second intermediate panel 20; and a pouch 44, which itself is composed of a plurality of panels joined together along seams, that is located on the front of the front panel 14. At the interface between adjacent panels is one of the seams 22 a-e that joins the adjacent panels together (seam 22 a joins the back panel 16 and the first intermediate panel 18; seam 22 b joins the first intermediate panel 18 and the second intermediate panel 20; seam 22 c joins the second intermediate panel 20 and the front panel 14; seam 22 d joins the front panel 14 and the pouch 44; and seam 22 e joins adjacent panels on the pouch 44 together). While not depicted, the pack 10 also has a bottom panel that is sewn to the other panels 14, 16, 18, 20. In order to form one of the seams 22 a-e, fabric from one of the panels is overlaid on fabric from an adjacent panel and the overlapping fabric is sewn together. A pair of straps 38 is sewn to the pack 10 to allow the wearer to wear the pack on his or her back. A handle 42 is sewn into the top of the first intermediate panel 18 so that the wearer can grab and move the pack 10. The padding 40 is sewn on to the exterior of the back panel 16 to provide cushioning for the wearer when wearing the pack 10.

The pack 10 according to the first embodiment has two interior storage compartments 12, 46. The wearer accesses a small interior storage 46 compartment using a small compartment zipper 24, and accesses a large interior storage 12 compartment using a large compartment zipper 25. The large interior storage compartment 12 is contained within the panels 14, 16, 18, 20, while the small interior storage compartment 46 is contained within the pouch 44. Each of the zippers 24, 25 includes a chain 26 having interlocking teeth and first and second sliders 28, 36 that are slidable on the chain 26. The sliders 28, 36 are slidable between first and second ends 30, 32 of the chains 26.

The small compartment zipper 24 is sewn into the pack 10 such that it begins on the back panel 16 and winds across the first intermediate panel 18, the second intermediate panel 20, the front panel 14, and terminates on the top side of the pouch 44. Each time the small compartment zipper 24 crosses from one panel to an adjacent panel and from the front panel 14 to the pouch 44, it crosses over one of the seams 22 a-e. Similarly, the large compartment zipper 25 is sewn onto the pack 10 such that it begins on the back panel 16 and winds across the first intermediate panel 18, and terminates on the second intermediate panel 20. Each time the large compartment zipper 25 crosses from one panel to an adjacent panel, it crosses over one of the seams 22 a-e.

The first ends 30 of the zippers 24, 25 are located on the back panel 16 so that when the pack 10 is being worn and the sliders 28, 36 are located against the wearer's back, a thief is unable to easily access the sliders 28, 36 without attracting the attention of the wearer. In the first embodiment, the first ends 30 of the zippers 24, 25 are located near the bottom of the back panel 16 such that when the pack 10 is worn and the sliders 28, 36 are located at the first ends 30 of the zippers 24, 25, the sliders 28, 36 are located in the small of the wearer's back. This allows the sliders 28, 36 to fit in space provided by the curvature of the wearer's back, which helps the wearer be comfortable. The zippers 24, 25 are recessed in the padding 40, which further facilitates wearer comfort.

Referring now in particular to FIGS. 4( a) and 4(b), the sliders 28, 36 of the large compartment zipper 25 are separated from each other such that an aperture 34 is present in the chain 26. The aperture 34 is formed in the chain 26 whenever the sliders 28, 36 are not adjacent to each other. Because the large compartment zipper 25 is sewn over the seams 22 a, b and the fabric of the first intermediate panel 18, the aperture 34 in FIG. 4( a) does not allow access to the large interior storage compartment 12, but instead reveals the first intermediate panel 18. In contrast, in FIG. 4( b) the aperture 34 in the chain 26 is aligned with a prefabricated opening in the second intermediate panel 20, which allows the wearer to access the large interior storage compartment 12 within the pack 10. Beneficially, because the large compartment zipper 25 is sewn over the seams 22 a, b of the pack 10, the sliders 28, 36 can slide from their open position in FIG. 4( b) to their closed, theft resistant position in FIG. 1 without splitting either of the seams 22 a, b. When the large interior storage compartment 12 is accessible to the wearer through the aperture 34, the large compartment zipper 25 is in an opened position; the large compartment zipper 25 is otherwise in a closed position. Regardless of whether the large compartment zipper 25 is opened or closed, because the seams 22 a-e of the pack 10 are intact the pack 10 retains a relatively high structural integrity. Also beneficially, because there are no gaps in the back panel 16 nor the first intermediate panel 18, the sliders 28, 36 can slide along the large compartment zipper 25 without disrupting the structural integrity of either of the back panel 16 and first intermediate panel 18 by splitting the panels 16, 18. The small compartment zipper 24 is sewn to the bag and functions in the same way as the large compartment zipper 25. The small compartment zipper 24 can slide along the back panel 16, the first intermediate panel 18, the second intermediate panel 20, and the front panel 14 without splitting any portion of them and disrupting their structural integrity.

The pack 10 of the foregoing embodiment is in contrast to conventional packs that rely on a fabric insert, for example, to join portions of two panels (or portions of a single panel) together and that utilize a zipper to pull the portions of the two panels (or the portions of the single panel) together over the fabric insert. For example, when a conventional pack that uses a fabric insert to join two panels together is unzipped and then filled, the fabric insert expands and the two panels separate, which can make it difficult to close the zipper since in order to close the zipper the two panels have to be brought together such that the teeth of the zipper can mesh. In the pack 10 depicted in FIGS. 4( a) and (b), the large compartment zipper 25 is not used to join together two panels or portions of either the back panel 16 or the first intermediate panel 18, and therefore is not pulled apart across either of these panels when the pack 10 is loaded. Consequently, the segment of the large compartment zipper 25 extending over the back panel 16 and the first intermediate panel 18 can easily be zipped and unzipped even when the pack 10 is loaded. Similarly, the segment of the small compartment zipper 24 extending over the back panel 16, the first intermediate panel 18, the second intermediate panel 20, and the front panel 14 can also be easily zipped and unzipped when the pack 10 is loaded.

Referring now to FIGS. 5( a) and 5(b), there is shown a second embodiment of the pack 10 that depicts how the wearer accesses the small interior storage compartment 46 located within the pouch 44. The pack 10 according to the first embodiment and the pack 10 according to the second embodiment are substantially similar except that the small compartment zipper 24 on the pack 10 of the second embodiment terminates on the front of the pouch 44 instead of on the top of the pouch 44 as in the first embodiment. In FIG. 5( a), the first and second sliders 28, 36 are separated such the aperture 34 in the chain 26 is visible to reveal fabric from the second intermediate panel 20 and the front panel 14 and the seam 22 c joining the panels 20, 14 together. In FIG. 5( b), the first and second sliders 28, 36 are separated such that the aperture 34 is wide enough to allow the wearer to access the small interior storage compartment 46 located within the pouch 44. When the small interior storage compartment 46 is accessible to the wearer through the aperture 36, the small compartment zipper 24 is in an opened position; the small compartment zipper 24 is otherwise in a closed position.

While the zippers 24, 25 of the above embodiments have two sliders 28, 36 each, alternative embodiments (not depicted) include packs with zippers having only a single slider. In such embodiments, the aperture in the zipper chains is formed not between two sliders, but between the single slider and one end of the chain.

Additionally, while in the above embodiments the zippers 24, 25 are sewn such they do not split any of the seams 22, in alternative embodiments (not depicted) a hybrid type of pack is possible in which the zippers split some, but not all, of the seams. Similarly, in alternative embodiments (not depicted), another type of hybrid pack can involve sewing any one or more zippers along gaps that are present in multiple of panels.

In order to manufacture the pack 10 according to the first embodiment, the back panel 16, the first intermediate panel 18, the second intermediate panel 20, the front panel 14, and the pouch 44 are first sewn together to result in a pack not having any zippers on it. The fabric of the second intermediate panel 20 and of the pouch 44 each have a prefabricated hole through which the large and small interior storage compartments 12, 46 will be accessed, respectively. The prefabricated hole does not extend through any of the seams 22 a-e. Alternatively, a manufacturer can cut a hole through the second intermediate panel 20 and the pouch 44. The large compartment zipper 25 is then sewn over the prefabricated hole in the second intermediate panel 20 and over the seams 22 a-b, while the small compartment zipper 24 is sewn over the prefabricated hole in the pouch 44 and over the seams 22 a-d, as depicted in FIGS. 1-4 (b). The zippers 24, ≅are sewn such that when the zippers 24, 25 are in the closed position, the wearer cannot access the interior storage compartments 12, 46, and such that when the sliders 28, 36 are apart and the zippers 24, 25 are in the opened position, the apertures 34 in the zippers 24, 25 at least partially align with the prefabricated holes such that the wearer can access the interior storage compartments 12, 46. Because the zippers 24, 25 are sewn on to the surface of the pack 10, in the depicted exemplary embodiment the zipper tape (unlabeled in the Figures, but visible as the speckled strip on which the chains 26 are placed) is visible on the exterior of the pack 10; in alternative embodiments (not depicted), the zipper tape is not as evident. For example, the pack 10 may be fabricated such that the zipper tape is located under another piece of fabric and is therefore hidden from view, which can result in a more aesthetically pleasing pack. The pack 10 according to the second embodiment is manufactured analogously to the pack 10 of the first embodiment.

While a particular embodiment has been described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible and are intended to be included herein. It will be clear to any person skilled in the art that modifications of and adjustments to the foregoing embodiments, not shown, are possible. 

1. A pack having an interior storage compartment, the pack comprising: (a) a plurality of joined panels containing the interior storage compartment therein, the plurality of joined panels comprising joined first and second panels; (b) a seam joining the first and second panels together; and (c) a zipper comprising a chain and a slider and wherein the chain has first and second ends between which the slider is movable such that the zipper can transition between an opened position that creates an aperture in the chain that allows access to the interior storage compartment and a closed position that prevents access to the interior storage compartment, wherein the zipper is affixed to the pack such that the slider is movable over the seam without dividing the seam and wherein the seam bears load in lieu of the zipper regardless of whether the zipper is in the opened or closed positions.
 2. A pack as claimed in claim 1 wherein the zipper comprises two sliders and is in the opened position when the distance between the two sliders is sufficiently large to result in the aperture.
 3. A pack as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a strap coupled to the plurality of joined panels such that a person can wear the pack and such that at least one of the joined panels is forced towards the person when the pack is worn.
 4. A pack as claimed in claim 3 wherein the zipper is in the opened position when the slider is at the first end and in the closed position when the slider is at the second end, the second end located on the at least one of the joined panels that is forced towards the person when the pack is worn.
 5. A pack as claimed in claim 4 wherein the second end is located against the lower back of the person wearing the pack when the pack is worn.
 6. A pack as claimed in claim 4 further comprising padding disposed on the joined panel that is forced towards the person when the pack is worn, and wherein the second end is recessed within the padding.
 7. A pack as claimed in claim 1 wherein the zipper is affixed on to at least one of the joined panels, and wherein the slider is movable over a portion of the at least one of the joined panels without splitting the at least one of the joined panels.
 8. A backpack having an interior storage compartment, the backpack comprising: (a) a plurality of joined panels containing the interior storage compartment therein, the plurality of joined panels comprising a back panel that is forced towards the back of a person wearing the backpack and a second panel joined to the back panel; (b) a strap coupled to the plurality of joined panels such that the person can wear the backpack; (c) a seam joining the back and second panels together; and (d) a zipper comprising a chain and a slider movable on the chain, the slider movable between an opened position that creates an aperture in the chain that allows access to the interior storage compartment and a closed position that prevents access to the interior storage compartment, wherein the zipper is affixed on the backpack such that the slider is movable over the seam without dividing the seam and wherein the seam bears load in lieu of the zipper regardless of whether the zipper is in the opened or closed positions.
 9. A backpack as claimed in claim 8 wherein the chain has first and second ends between which the slider is movable, the zipper being in the opened position when the slider is at the first end and the closed position when the slider is at the second end, the second end being located on the back panel.
 10. A backpack as claimed in claim 8 wherein the zipper comprises two sliders and is in the opened position when the distance between the two sliders is sufficiently large to result in the aperture.
 11. A backpack as claimed in claim 9 wherein the second end is located against the lower back of the person wearing the backpack when the pack is worn.
 12. A backpack as claimed in claim 9 further comprising padding disposed on the back panel, and wherein the second end is recessed within the padding.
 13. A backpack as claimed in claim 8 wherein the zipper is affixed on to at least one of the joined panels, and wherein the slider is movable over a portion of the at least one of the joined panels without splitting the at least one of the joined panels.
 14. A method for manufacturing a pack, the method comprising: (a) joining together, along a seam, a plurality of panels within which is contained an interior storage compartment; and (b) affixing a zipper to at least one of the plurality of panels and along a hole in the at least one of the plurality of panels that leads to the interior storage compartment such that when the zipper is in a closed position access to the interior storage compartment is prevented and when the zipper is in an opened position access to the interior storage compartment is allowed, wherein the zipper is affixed such that the zipper can transition between the opened and closed positions without dividing the seam and wherein the seam bears load in lieu of the zipper regardless of whether the zipper is in the opened or closed positions.
 15. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the zipper comprises a chain and a slider movable along the chain, and wherein the zipper is affixed on to the exterior of the at least one of the plurality of panels such that the slider is movable over a portion of the at least one of the plurality of panels without splitting the at least one of the plurality of panels. 